Optically assessing body properties

ABSTRACT

Method and system for optically assessing properties of a body on at least one sectional surface of at least one cut introduced in the body in question. The sectional surface is thereby optically recorded directly during the cutting operation by an image acquisition unit, namely, by means of optical sensors of a blade of a cutting tool that is designed for this purpose. The data resulting from a digitization of the sensor signals that have been converted into electrical signals are then processed in an image processing device to visualize the at least one sectional surface on at least one display or/and to create reports in regard to the characteristics of the body or/and in order to classify the body in accordance with a classification system, or/and to derive control signals for a subsequent further processing of the body or of parts produced by the execution of the at least one cut.

The invention relates to a solution for optically assessing propertiesof a body on the basis of an invasive intervention in the body inquestion. It relates, in particular, to a method in which the assessmentof the body properties is produced on at least one sectional surface ofat least one cut introduced in this body. Beyond this, the subject ofthe invention is a system that is suitable for carrying out this method.A preferred field of application of the invention is represented by theinvasive assessment of the characteristics of the meat on a body orcarcass of a slaughtered animal or on the parts thereof in an opticalway, albeit without any limitation of the invention thereto.

In principle, the body that is to be assessed by use of the inventioncan be a body of any kind. Thus, it can involve a dead body, that is, alifeless body, as well as a living body, whereby the former need notonly be merely a physical or geometric body, that is, an object or partof an object in the usual sense, but rather what is involved can also bethe body of an originally living organism or parts thereof with respectto the already mentioned carcass of a slaughtered animal or partsthereof. In regard to the preferred intended use of the invention andthe relevant prior art that is known here, however, the followingexplanations are made, above all, with reference to an (invasive)optical assessment of the carcasses of slaughtered animals, without—asalready stated—thereby indicating any limitations of the invention inthis regard.

In connection with the industrial processing of meat and the productionof meat products, it is usual to assess the quality of the meat at theearliest possible phase of meat processing so as, on the basis of suchan assessment, either to establish in a fundamental manner in what wayor to which products the parts of a carcass of a slaughtered animal areto be processed, or however, within an existing classification system,to assign independently treated parts of the carcass of a slaughteredanimal to a specific quality class or marketing class. The opticalassessment of the meat plays an important role here. In terms ofcorresponding classifications and the procedure for assignment of theindividual parts of a carcass of a slaughtered animal to a respectivespecific class as well as in terms of the quality assessment of meat ingeneral, there exist very different regulations in individual countries.This is also true for the optical assessment.

For the purpose of an assessment of the meat characteristics of thecarcasses of slaughtered pork, for example, the use of so-calledFat-O-Meaters is known. What is involved here are pistol-shaped handheldinstruments having a pointed tip probe that is driven into the carcassof the slaughtered animal when the instrument is appropriately actuated.The probe behind the tip, which usually has an essentially circularcross section with a diameter of 6 mm to 8 mm, is equipped with opticalsensors. In interaction with a processing device that analyzes thesignals of the optical sensors, these probes are used, in particular, todetermine the thickness of the muscle tissue of a pork cutlet, forexample.

The basic structure of a probe of the aforementioned kind is described,for example, at www.kolleg.loel.hs-anhalt.de/cmsloel/326.html in“Vermarktung von Schlachttieren” (Marketing of Slaughtered Animals). Byuse of such a probe, it is possible to record data in regard to the meatcharacteristics of a carcass of a slaughtered animal in a singlemeasuring operation, albeit only very locally and in a manner that isfocused on a limited region. Hence, for example, it is hardly possibleto make statements in regard to the marbling of a cutlet or—in the caseof beef—in regard to the marbling of the rib eye.

A larger area assessment and, in particular, also statements in regardto the marbling of the meat are possible, in contrast, by means of theimage analysis system described in US 2003/0072472 A1. A component ofthis system is likewise an optical measuring or sensor head that isguided by hand. The wedge-shaped sensor head is specially designed herefor optically recording the tissue at the sectional surface of a cutthat is introduced in the region of the rib eye in a carcass ofslaughtered beef. An assessment of the meat of a carcass of slaughteredbeef on the basis of a cut introduced in this way is usually carried outpredominantly in the USA and in Canada. In this case, it has provenadvantageous when the sectional surfaces resulting from a cut introducedin the aforementioned region in a beef carcass are routinely spacedrelatively far apart. In this way, it is possible for the wedge-shapedsensor head described in the specification to be inserted readily intothe cut introduced in the carcass.

However, in connection with meat assessment in the case of beefcarcasses, it is usual—for example, in Europe and in South America—tomake a cut in a different manner. In this case, for example, a cut isintroduced in the beef carcass in the region between the 5th rib and the7th rib or, for instance in Germany, in the region between the 10th riband the 11th rib. When the cut is introduced in this manner, however,the sectional surfaces are usually spaced less far apart than in thecase of a cut introduced in the region of the rib eye. The use of thesensor head described in US 2003/0072472 A1 is thus possible only withlimitation or, in any case, is at least markedly more difficult toperform.

The object of the invention is to provide an alternative solution to theinvasive optical assessment of the properties of bodies that, inparticular, is also suitable for the assessment of the characteristicsof the meat on the carcasses of slaughtered animals. In regard to thelatter, that is, to an assessment of meat characteristics, thecorresponding solution is intended to make possible thereby theassessment above all on pork and on the carcasses of slaughtered beefand thereby to be employable regardless of the different regulationsexisting on individual continents or in individual countries. For thispurpose, a method and a system that is suitable for carrying out thismethod are presented.

The object is achieved by way of a method having the features of thepatent claim 1. A system that achieves the object is characterized bythe first independent device claim. Advantageous elaborations or furtherdevelopments of the invention are given by the respective dependentclaims.

In accordance with the object, what is involved in the method accordingto the invention for optically assessing bodies is an invasive method,namely a method in which the respective body is not assessed opticallyin a purely external manner, but rather in which sensing elements areintroduced into the body in question. In accordance with the methodproposed for the solution of the problem, at least one sectional surfaceof at least one cut that is introduced in the body that is to beassessed (if need be, also extending all the way through this body) isrecorded optically by means of corresponding sensors of an imageacquisition unit. The data resulting from a digitization of the sensorsignals that have been converted to electrical signals are processed inan image processing device, namely, for

-   -   visualization of the at least one sectional surface on at least        one display or/and for    -   creation of a report describing the characteristics of the body        along the at least one sectional surface or/and for    -   classification of the body in accordance with a classification        system or/and for    -   derivation of control signals for a subsequent further        processing of the body or of the parts that are created from it        when the at least one cut is executed.

In accordance with the invention, the optical recording of the at leastone sectional surface occurs already directly during the cuttingoperation by way of a blade of a cutting tool that is designed for thispurpose. The analog electrical sensor signals that, during scanning ofthe (the at least one) sectional surface in question, result from theconversion of the optical signals impinging on the optically activeareas of the sensor are digitized and thereby coded via digital data forfurther processing. In a hardware- and software-based image processingdevice, the digital data that are created are finally processed, asalready discussed above, for the purpose of visualizing the at least onesectional surface on at least one display, for the creation of reports,for the classification of the body, or/and for the derivation of controlsignals for other processing devices. Through application of the methodand by means of the system that is yet to be explained, it isaccordingly possible to cut a carcass of a slaughtered animal or a partthereof, such as, for example, a complete pork loin or a complete roastbeef, or also sausage, smoked ham, cheese, baked goods, wood, or otherbody, slice by slice by using one blade or a plurality of blades toproduce slices and, at the same time, to investigate them thereby interms of dimensions, quality, or other characteristics.

In the following discussions and in the patent claims, a distinction interms is made between (optical and electrical) signals on the one handand electrical data on the other hand. In accordance with theunderstanding that underlies this distinction, signals involve analogvariables, namely, for example, optical signals detected in the form ofbrightness or/and color by the sensors during scanning of the sectionalsurface and electrical signals created from these optical signals byconverting them in the sensors. Electrical data, in contrast, representin digital form the aforementioned electrical signals resulting from theoptical signals, so that they can be further processed by computertechnology and the processing result that is obtained can be output toan output device that is suitable in regard to the kind of informationthat it transports (for example, purely graphically visual or textualinformation).

In basic principle, it is conceivable in each case to record by means ofoptical sensors both sectional surfaces of a cut introduced in a bodyand correspondingly to further process the electrical data obtained fromthis recording in the course of the conversion to electrical signals anda subsequent digitization. This is taken into consideration above and inthe patent claims by way of the formulation according to which at leastone sectional surface and thus, if need be, also both sectional surfacesof a respective cut is or are optically recorded. However, this isbasically unreasonable in practice, because the two sectional surfacesthat are formed by a cut are largely not distinct from each other onaccount of the relatively small thickness of the blades used for thispurpose. Nonetheless, this possibility is always included by theinvention and by each of the embodiments thereof that are yet to bedescribed, even when in part, for purposes of simplifying thedescription, only a sectional surface or the sectional surface of a cutis mentioned.

In accordance with the proposed method, as can be seen from the abovediscussions, a large-area optical recording for the invasive assessmentof body properties does not occur only after a cut has been made forthis purpose in the body that is to be assessed, but rather directlyduring a corresponding cutting operation. In regard to an application ofthe method in meat processing, this opens up, for example, thepossibility of an assessment of meat on the basis of an opticalrecording of the meat directly during the meat-cutting operation, which,in final effect, advantageously leads to savings in time within theprocessing procedure.

In accordance with the above discussions, regardless of the respectivespecific case of application and the associated mechanical requirementsthat are placed on the cutting tool and on the size of its at least oneblade, the method makes use of a specially designed blade, which makespossible the optical recording of at least one sectional surfacedirectly during the cutting operation. Detailed discussions in thisrespect will be presented later in connection with the description of asystem that is suitable for carrying out the method and achieving theobject.

The method makes it possible, during the cutting operation conducted bymeans of the aforementioned blade, to visualize directly the therebydetected segments of the sectional surface on a display that is actuatedas an output device by the image processing device and, in this way, toconvey to persons or control personnel who are working on-site animmediate impression of the characteristics of the body in each of thesegments through which the blade has passed. In accordance with apossible design of the method, it is possible, alternatively oradditionally, to provide information in regard to the characteristics ofthe body along the cutting site, which has been optically recorded inaccordance with the method, in the form of a report compiled by theimage processing device after the conclusion of a cutting operation orin regard to a classification of the body. In connection with theprocessing of meat, it is thereby possible, in one corresponding reportor in a plurality of corresponding reports, to make statements in regardto the quality grade of the meat or/and in regard to the ratio ofportions of lean meat and fat. However, the corresponding situation alsoholds true, for example, for an application of the method in connectionwith the production of cheese and the quality controls that thereby takeplace, or also during the processing of wood and thereby, in connectionwith the size of the cut or solely for control purposes of cuts alreadymade, to arrive at useful statements in regard to quality—in order toindicate at this point only once again some possibilities of applicationof the method in connection with the assessment of dead bodies orobjects. Conceivable in connection with a possible use on a living bodyis, for example, the possibility that, for instance when making anincision in an abscess or in the tissue surrounding it or the like, aphysician is able via the use of the method to obtain information inregard to the characteristics of the tissue in the region of the healthimpairment that he or she is treating directly during the cuttingprocedure.

In order to obtain visual or/and textual information of theabove-described kind, it is not actually absolutely essential to havedetailed data as to the precise position of the segment through whichthe blade passes in each case on the sectional surface obtained afterthe conclusion of the cutting operation. Thus, a statement in regard tothe ratio of fat to meat that is made in the context of a reportcompiled during the processing of meat can be obtained in that, duringimage processing, the number of imaging points that are identified asfat on the sectional surface that is scanned by sensors can be placed inratio to the number of imaging points of the scanned surface (that is,the sectional surface scanned by sensors) that are identified as meat.It is noted here that the assignment of imaging points of an image of ameat surface that is recorded by means of corresponding optical sensorsor of a sectional surface produced in meat to the tissue compartmentsmeat (muscle), fat, or bone by way of threshold value analysis ofbrightness values or/and color values has long been known as such to theperson skilled in the art.

Whereas, as already stated, in regard to the aforementioned informationcompiled in reports in visual form or in textual form, a knowledge ofthe position of the segments that, in each case, have been opticallyrecorded during the cutting operation can be dispensed with, if need be,this does not hold true for the visual depiction of the entire sectionalsurface that occurs on a display immediately after the conclusion of acutting operation or also—to return once again to the example of meatprocessing—for other, yet to be mentioned below, information/statementsto be taken for classification or to be conveyed in the form of reportsin regard to the characteristics of meat. Therefore, in accordance witha further development of the method, by way of the image processingdevice, namely, by way of a position determination device that belongsto it, in assignment to the sensor signals that are obtained during theoptical recording of the at least one sectional surface by the blade andthe electrical data resulting from the sensor signals, positional dataare transmitted to the image processing device and describe therespective momentary position of the blade within the cut body duringthe recording of the optical signals on which the electrical image dataare based.

Taking into consideration data about the respective position of theblade, the image processing device is used after the conclusion of acutting operation, in accordance with another possible design of themethod, to create reports that make statements in regard to the totalsize of the sectional surface or/and in regard to characteristics of thematerial or tissue structure of the body on the at least one sectionalsurface that is produced by the cut, that is, for example, to makestatements in regard to the marbling of the meat in the cut region inthe case of the carcass of a slaughtered animal that is being assessedby means of the method. With a view to the preferred field ofapplication of the invention, that is, to its use in the processing ofmeat, in a corresponding design of the method by the image processingdevice, reports are created after the conclusion of a cutting operation,these reports making statements relating to the quality grade of themeat or/and to the ratio of the proportions of lean meat and fat, butalso, with respect to the latter, in regard to the positionaldistribution of the lean meat and fat and thus—as already addressed—inregard to the marbling. Beyond this or alternatively, the aforementionedstatements in regard to the characteristics of the meat can also beutilized directly for an automated classification of the relevant partof a carcass of a slaughtered animal.

In accordance with an implementation of the method specially for theassessment of the characteristics of the meat on a beef carcass on thebasis of a cut that is introduced in the region of the rib eye throughthe carcass of the slaughtered animal, an automated classification ofthe rib eye obtained when the carcass of a slaughtered animal is cut uptakes place by way of the image processing device after the conclusionof a cutting operation, or/and reports are created in regard to thequality of the rib eye. Corresponding reports thereby provide statementsin regard to the height, width, and area of the rib eye, namely, morespecifically, statements relating to at least one but also a pluralityof the aforementioned features that describe the appearance of the ribeye in the case of the assessed carcass of slaughtered beef.

In a comparable way, a design of the method that relates to the meatassessment of a slaughtered pork carcass allows statements to be made inregard to the quality of the ham or of the cutlet. A cut is made herethrough the pork carcass with separation of the corresponding part ofthe carcass of the slaughtered animal. After the conclusion of thecutting operation in the case of ham, a classification of the ham ismade on the basis of the data thereby obtained, or/and reports arecreated, which make statements in regard to the size of the sectionalsurface, that is, in regard to the ham width and in regard to the hamlength, or/and in regard to the distribution of the tissue compartmentsmeat, fat, and bone, that is, in turn, in regard to one property or aplurality of properties of the ham. Likewise, it is possible in the caseof a pork carcass for the image processing device, after the conclusionof the cutting operation, to carry out a classification of the cutletfor a cut made so as to separate the shoulder region and thus madethrough the cutlet, or/and to create reports that make statements inregard to the distribution of the tissue compartments meat, fat, andbone in the cutlet as well as in regard to the size of the sectionalsurface. With respect to the latter-mentioned example of the cutlet, itis also possible, for example, to cut up the complete pork loin intoindividual slices in a downstream processing operation, preferably bymeans of a so-called slicer and, in turn, immediately in the course ofthis process to obtain statements in regard to the characteristics andquality of the individual cutlet.

As long as at least one cut that is introduced in or through therespective body is addressed in the patent claims and in theexplanations given above in regard to the method, it is self-evident tothe person skilled in the art that, in the case of a cutting operationcarried out by an appropriately equipped cutting tool, it is alsopossible to produce, at the same time, a plurality of cuts and to beable to record optically at least one sectional surface of one or aplurality of these cuts by means of optical sensors of the imageacquisition unit. It is further clear to the person skilled in the artthat there is also the possibility here that the image processing devicefurther processes the electrical signals provided by the sensors ofpreferably a plurality of the blades after their digitization aselectrical data for the purpose of a graphic visualization of thecorresponding sectional surfaces for the purpose of creating reports,for the purpose of classification of the body in question, or/and forthe purpose of deriving control data for downstream processes.

A suitable system for achieving the object and for carrying out themethod explained above for the invasive assessment of properties of abody is composed of at least one image acquisition unit, an imageprocessing device having at least one output device, and a cutting toolhaving at least one blade for making a cut in the body that is to beassessed. The image acquisition unit has optical sensors for recordingoptical data on at least one sectional surface of a cut made in the bodywith at least one blade of the cutting too, as well as (in each case) alight unit for the illumination of a respective sectional surface thatis recorded by means of the sensor. The optical sensors of the imageacquisition unit and the (respective) light unit for the illumination ofthe sectional surface that is optically recorded by means of thesesensors are thereby integrated, in accordance with the invention, in atleast one blade of the cutting tool. The image acquisition unit furtherincludes units for the transmission of electrical signals or dataresulting from signals of the optical sensors to the image processingdevice.

The aforementioned units for the transmission can involve any kind thatis suitable for the transmission of electrical signals or data, inparticular units for a wired transmission or for a wirelesstransmission. In the case that a digitization of electrical sensorsignals is already produced on the part of the imaging unit, electricaldata are transmitted to the image processing device in accordance withthe understanding presented above. In the other case, that is, in thecase of a digitization of the electrical sensor signals first in theimage processing device, electrical signals are transmitted to it,whereby, in the case of a wireless transmission, preferably the formerapproach, that is, a digitization of the electrical signals on the partof the image acquisition unit, is provided. In accordance with theexplanations just given, the image acquisition unit or the imageprocessing device has at least one unit (more details of which arepresented below) for the digitization of the electrical sensor data.

The image processing device has units for receiving the signals or datathat are transmitted by the image acquisition unit. Insofar as it isprovided that the image processing device receives electrical signalsthat have not yet been digitized from the image acquisition unit, theimage processing device has, in addition, as already mentioned, adigitization unit. The image processing device is further designed toprocess the signals or data received from the image acquisition unit fora visualization on at least one display or/and for the creation of thereports that describe the characteristics of the body along the at leastone sectional surface or/and for classification of the body or/and forthe derivation of control signals.

As discussed in regard to the method, it is preferably provided inconnection with the optical recording of a sectional surface, that is,of the scanning of a sectional surface, to determine within the body therespective position of the blade that optically records this sectionalsurface by means of its sensors. In accordance therewith, in anotherembodiment of the system according to the invention, the cutting toolpreferably has a position determination device with position indicators,by way of which, in assignment to the sensor signals generated duringthe optical recording of the at least one sectional surface by the bladeequipped with the optical sensors, positional data describing therespective momentary position of the blade within the body aretransmitted to the image processing device.

In regard to the specific design of the optical sensors and of the lightunit, different possibilities are also given. In accordance with aproposed embodiment of the system according to the invention in thisrespect, the optical sensors that are integrated in the at least oneblade are formed by the ends of optical fibers. Furthermore, in thiscase—at least insofar as the site of the actual light generation isconcerned—the light of a light unit that is not arranged directly inthis blade is supplied directly via fiber optic cable to the sectionalsurface that is produced by means of the blade.

As already indicated, the system according to the invention alsocomprises embodiments in which the cutting tool has a plurality ofblades for the simultaneous production of a plurality of cuts in thebody that is to be assessed. The example of the slicer already mentionedearlier is recalled once again at this point. In this case, one or aplurality of these blades is or are equipped with optical sensors forthe optical recording of at least one sectional surface of a cutintroduced in the body. Insofar as, in a preferred way, a digitizationof the electrical sensor signals already takes place on the part of theimage acquisition unit, preferably each blade that is furnished withsensors then also has a unit for the digitization of the electricalsensor signals. However, it is also conceivable to provide a commondigitization unit at a central point of the cutting tool for all bladesthat are equipped with sensors. A corresponding digitizationunit—provided either for each blade or at a central point of the cuttingtool for all blades—would thereby be formed in any case as a componentpart of the image acquisition unit. Likewise, in the case thatelectrical data are transmitted wirelessly from the image acquisitionunit to the image processing device, the wireless transmission unitsthat are required for this purpose are arranged integrally with each ofthe sensors or centrally at the cutting tool. In the latter case, it ispossible for electrical signals or data to be transmitted from theblades, initially in a wired manner, to a corresponding central point ofthe cutting tool—namely, either electrical signals to a centrallyarranged digitization unit or electrical data from digitization unitsprovided integrally for each blade to centrally arranged units forwireless transmission—and then, finally, further transmitted wirelesslyto the image processing device.

In conclusion, it still needs to be mentioned at this point that, inbasic principle, the method can also be carried out by means of a systemin which the blade or the blades of the cutting tool are operated byhand, but otherwise are equipped in accordance with the invention, thatis, in which, in particular, at least one or also a plurality of theblades (not necessarily all) has or have, as integral component parts,at least optical sensors and a light unit as well as, if need be, inaddition, a unit for the digitization of the sensor signals andpreferably units for wireless transmission. In practice, the cuttingtool has been designed in the meantime as a machine device in mostcases. The system then includes, in addition, a drive device for adriving mechanism of the blade or of the blades, which is required forproducing a cut in the body, as well as a control device for controllingthis drive device. In this connection, it additionally needs to be notedthat the blade or blades can have diverse shapes. Thus, for example,they may involve an blade-like elongated cutting edge, but also may bethe cutting edge of a circular blade or slicer, which, however, is thenfurnished with corresponding drive means in each case.

Presented in the following, on the basis of drawings, is an exemplaryembodiment of the invention, which relates to the preferred applicationof an assessment of the meat characteristics of a carcass of aslaughtered animal in meat processing. The drawings individually show:

FIG. 1 : a rough schematic illustration of a possible embodiment of thesystem according to the invention,

FIG. 2 a : details of a possible embodiment of a position determinationdevice during the performance of a cutting operation,

FIG. 2 b : the position determination device in accordance with FIG. 2 aafter the conclusion of the cutting operation.

FIG. 1 shows a possible embodiment of the system according to theinvention in a highly simplified, rough schematic illustration. The maincomponent parts of the system are accordingly an image processingdevice, which is essentially composed of optical sensors 1 and a lightunit 2, an image processing device 3, and a cutting tool, of which,here, only one blade 6 is shown, in which the aforementioned keyelements (optical sensors 1 and light unit 2) of the image acquisitionunit are integrated in accordance with the invention. Besides theelements shown in the schematic illustration here, the image acquisitionunit and the image processing device 3 have units, which are not shown,for the exchange of data; namely, the image acquisition unit has atleast one transmitting unit for the transmission of electrical dataresulting from the signals of the optical sensors 1 and the imageprocessing device 3 has a receiving unit for receiving the datatransmitted by the transmitting unit of the image acquisition unit.

The transmission of the data between the image acquisition unit and theimage processing device 3 can thereby occur, for example, in a wirelessmanner using a known technique for near-field communication (NFC), suchas, for example, Bluetooth. In basic principle, it is obviously alsoconceivable to use a wired transmission, whereby the data acquired fromthe electrical signals of the optical sensors by way of a digitizationare transported initially out of the blade 6 with its optical sensors 1to a holding mount (not shown here) that belongs to the cutting tool(see FIG. 2 a or 2 b) for the blade 6 and, from it, to the imageprocessing device 3.

In the example shown, a wireless transmission of the data resulting fromthe electrical signals of the sensors 1 to the image processing deviceis assumed. In accordance therewith, a unit 7, which is likewiseindicated only schematically here, for the digitization of the sensorsignals as well as a wireless transmitting unit, which is notillustrated, are integrated in the illustrated blade. In this context,the two units (the unit 7 for the digitization and the wirelesstransmitting unit) can be regarded as component parts of the imageacquisition unit.

In the course of a cutting operation, the properties of one of the twosectional surfaces 10 (see FIG. 2 a or 2 b) that are formed along thecut are optically detected by means of the sensors 1. As is known, theoptical sensors 1, such as, for example, a CCD array or a matrix made upof CMOS elements, involve opto-electrical converters. That is, theoptical properties of the sectional surface 10 that are recorded bymeans of the sensors 1 are converted to corresponding electrical outputsignals of the sensors 1. These initially purely analog electricalsignals of the sensors 1 are digitized by the unit 7, which is likewiseintegrated in the blade 6, as assumed in accordance with the example,and thereby converted to data, which, for further analysis—here, by wayof wireless transmission—are transmitted to the image processing device3.

By means of the image processing device 3, such as, for example, acomputer workstation operating image processing software, these data arefurther processed for output on an output device 4, 5 that is coupled toimage processing device 3. The output device 4, 5 can involve, forexample, a display 4, on which the data obtained as a result of theimage processing are directly visualized, so that, in each case, thisdisplay 4 graphically depicts the recorded region of the sectionalsurface 10 in near real time.

Also conceivable, however, it a graphic depiction of the entiresectional surface on the display 4 after the conclusion of the cuttingoperation or also the creation of one report or a plurality of reportsby the image processing device 3, which describes or describe theproperties of the sectional surface 10 and, for example, can be outputto the display 4 or/and to a printer 5 in text form, whereby acorresponding report is also created by the image processing device 3preferably only after the conclusion of the cutting operation.

An illustration of the sectional surface 10 in its entirety, which isobtained after the conclusion of the cutting operation and involves moreor less a cumulative illustration of the regions of the sectionalsurface 10 that are recorded in succession during the cutting operation,as well as the creation of a report relating to the characteristics ofthe sectional surface in regard to the tissue compartments (meat, fat,and bone) or also an automated classification necessitates informationas to each of the positions at which the optical properties of thesectional surface 10 are recorded by the sensors 1 of the blade 6.Therefore, a component part of the system shown in the FIG. 1 is also aposition determination device 8, 9, which, however, is illustrated onlysymbolically in the figure.

Details of a possible embodiment of such a position determination deviceare shown in FIGS. 2 a and 2 b . However, in these drawings as well,only a possible basic principle of such a position determination deviceis schematically illustrated. In the example shown, the positiondetermination device 8, 9 is formed by two guide rails 8, which, forexample, are fixed in place at the feather bones and the backbone of abeef carcass 11. Guided along each of these guide rails 8 is arod-shaped position indicator 9, one of which is hinged at a pivot point13 of a blade holder 12 and the other of which is guided in a slot 14 ofthe blade holder 12 by means of a pin arranged at its end. In the courseof the cutting operation, the position indicators 9 move within theguide rails 8 downward, whereby data (digitized signals) as to theirdepth of penetration in the guide rails 8, as recorded in a capacitiveor inductive manner or by means of a change in resistance, aretransmitted synchronously with the cycle of image acquisition by thesensors 1 in the blade 6 to the image processing device 3, which is notillustrated here (see FIG. 1 ). It is possible from these data todetermine by means of conventional geometric calculations theproportions of the sectional surface with which the optical signalsrecorded by the sensors in the blade are associated in each case.

FIG. 2 a shows the circumstances during a cutting operation. Therod-shaped position indicators 9 are inserted here in the guide rails byonly a relatively short section of their total length. In FIG. 2 b , therelationships after the conclusion of a cutting operation areillustrated. The rod-shaped position indicators 9 are illustrated, as inthe drawing, only for clarification of the principle, with the guiderails 8 inserted over nearly their entire length, where the rod of theposition indicator illustrated on the left has rotated around the hingepoint (pivot point 13) with retention of its vertical orientation andthe pin formed at the top end of the position indicator illustrated onthe right has moved along the slot 12 from right to left.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method for the invasive assessment ofproperties of a body on at least one sectional surface, according towhich at least one sectional surface of at least one cut introduced inthis body is optically recorded by means of optical sensors of an imageacquisition unit and data resulting from a digitization of the sensorsignals that have been converted into electrical signals are furtherprocessed in an image processing device for at least one of thefollowing objectives: visualization of the at least one sectionalsurface on at least one display, creation of reports describing thecharacteristics of the body along the at least one sectional surface,classification of the body in accordance with a classification system,derivation of control signals for a subsequent further processing of thebody or of parts resulting therefrom by the execution of at least onecut, is hereby characterized in that the optical recording of the atleast one sectional surface is made directly during the cuttingoperation that creates the at least one sectional surface by way of acutting tool blade designed for this purpose in such a way that theoptical sensors of the image acquisition unit are integrated into thecutting tool blade, the optical sensors being directed at the at leastone sectional surface that is made directly during the cutting operationby the cutting tool blade.
 2. The method according to claim 1, furthercharacterized in that, by way of the image acquisition unit inassignment to the sensor signals generated during the optical recordingof the at least one sectional surface cut by the blade and in assignmentto the electrical data resulting from the sensor signals, position datathat describes the particular momentary position of the blade within thebody are transmitted to the image processing device.
 3. The methodaccording to claim 1, further characterized in that the at least one cutis introduced in a carcass of a slaughtered animal or in a part of acarcass of a slaughtered animal, and the at least one sectional surfacefor the assessment of the meat characteristics of the carcass of aslaughtered animal or of a part thereof along this at least onesectional surface is recorded by means of the blade designed for thispurpose.
 4. The method according to claim 3, further characterized inthat reports are created by the image processing device after theconclusion of a cutting operation, these reports making statements inregard to the quality grade of the meat or/and in regard to the ratio ofthe proportions of lean meat and fat.
 5. The method according to claim2, further characterized in that reports are created by the imageprocessing device after the conclusion of a cutting operation and makestatements in regard to the total size of the sectional surface or/andin regard to the marbling thereof.
 6. The method according to claim 2,in application to a beef carcass for a cut made through the carcass of aslaughtered animal in the region of the rib eye, further characterizedin that, after the conclusion of a cutting operation, data aredetermined by the image processing device in regard to at least one ofthe categories height of the rib eye, width of the rib eye, area of therib eye and these data are used to make a classification of the rib eyeor/and a report that describes these data is created.
 7. The methodaccording to claim 2, in application to a pork carcass for a cut madethrough the carcass of a slaughtered animal in order to separate the hamor the shoulder region, further characterized in that, after theconclusion of a cutting operation, data are determined by the imageprocessing device in regard to the size of the cut piece of meat on thesectional surface, namely, in regard to the width and in regard to thelength of the sectional surface, or/and in regard to the distribution ofthe tissue compartments of meat, fat, and bone in the cut piece of meat,and these data are used for a classification of the cut piece of meator/and a report that describes these data is created.
 8. The methodaccording to claim 2, further characterized in that the at least onesectional surface is visualized in its entirety by the image processingdevice after the conclusion of a cutting operation.
 9. The methodaccording to claim 1, further characterized in that, during a cuttingoperation by the cutting tool, a plurality of cuts are produced at thesame time and at least one sectional surface of one or a plurality ofthese cuts is optically recorded by means of optical sensors of theimage acquisition unit.
 10. A system for the invasive assessment ofproperties of a body on at least one sectional surface, composed of atleast an image acquisition unit, of an image processing device with atleast one output device, and of a cutting tool having at least one bladefor making a cut in the body that creates the at least one sectionalsurface, wherein the image acquisition unit has optical sensors forrecording optical signals on at least one sectional surface of a cutintroduced in the body with at least one blade of the cutting tool, alight unit for the illumination of the sectional surface recordedoptically by means of these sensors, and units for the transmission ofthe sensor signals that have been converted into electrical signals ordata to the image processing device, the image processing device hasunits for receiving the signals or data transmitted by the imageacquisition unit and is designed to process the received signals or datafor at least one of the following objectives: visualization of the atleast one sectional surface on at least one display, creation of reportsdescribing the characteristics of the body along the at least onesectional surface, classification of the body in accordance with aclassification system, derivation of control signals for a subsequentfurther processing of the body or of the parts that are createdtherefrom by the execution of the at least one cut the image acquisitionunit has at least one unit or the image processing device has at leastone unit for the digitization of electrical signals of the opticalsensors of the image acquisition unit, further characterized in that atleast the optical sensors of the image acquisition unit are integratedin the at least one blade of the cutting tool, the optical sensors beingdirected at the at least one sectional surface that is made directlyduring the cutting operation by the at least one blade of the cuttingtool.
 11. The system according to claim 10, further characterized inthat the cutting tool has a position determination device with positionindicators, by way of which, in assignment to the sensor signalsresulting during the optical recording of the at least one sectionalsurface by the blade equipped with the optical sensors, position datadescribing the particular momentary position of the blade within thebody are transmitted to the image processing device.
 12. The systemaccording to claim 10, further characterized in that the light unit isintegrated in the at least one blade that is equipped with opticalsensors.
 13. The system according to claim 10, further characterized inthat the at least one unit for the digitization of electrical sensorsignals of these optical sensors is integrated in the at least one bladethat is equipped with optical sensors.
 14. The system according to claim13, further characterized in that a wireless transmitting unit isintegrated in the at least one blade of the cutting tool that isequipped with optical sensors for the transmission of data obtained byway of the digitization of the sensor signals in the at least one unitof the blade to the image processing device.
 15. The system according toclaim 10, further characterized in that the light of the light unit issupplied via fiber optic cable to the sectional surface produced by theat least one blade and the optical sensors integrated in this blade areformed by the ends of optical fibers.
 16. The system according to claim10, further characterized in that the cutting tool has a plurality ofblades for the simultaneous production of a plurality of cuts in thebody, wherein one or a plurality of these blades is or are equipped withoptical sensors for the optical recording of at least one sectionalsurface of a cut produced by it or them in the body.